Low mate encounter rate increases male risk taking in a sexually cannibalistic praying mantis.

PloS One
William D BrownAlexander J Ladowski

Abstract

Male praying mantises are forced into the ultimate trade-off of mating versus complete loss of future reproduction if they fall prey to a female. The balance of this trade-off will depend both on (1) the level of predatory risk imposed by females and (2) the frequency of mating opportunities for males. We report the results of a set of experiments that examine the effects of these two variables on male risk-taking behavior and the frequency of sexual cannibalism in the praying mantis Tenodera sinensis. We experimentally altered the rate at which males encountered females and measured male approach and courtship behavior under conditions of high and low risk of being attacked by females. We show that male risk taking depends on prior access to females. Males with restricted access to females showed greater risk-taking behavior. When males were given daily female encounters, they responded to greater female-imposed risk by slowing their rate of approach and remained a greater distance from a potential mate. In contrast, males without recent access to mates were greater risk-takers; they approached females more rapidly and to closer proximity, regardless of risk. In a second experiment, we altered male encounter rate with females ...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1996·Brain, Behavior and Evolution·F R PreteP J McMillin
Apr 13, 2004·Journal of Chemical Ecology·Lawrence E HurdRichard T Portman

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Citations

Nov 29, 2013·Biology Letters·Murray P FeaGregory I Holwell
May 20, 2020·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Adam M FisherTom A R Price
Jan 20, 2021·Biology Letters·Nathan W Burke, Gregory I Holwell

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